Barbara Ann Hart

Barbara Ann Hart

Barbara Ann Hart

Cedar Rapids

Barbara Ann Hart, 62, of Cedar Rapids, took leave of this earth on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, while at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She unexpectedly collapsed into the arms of her family on Aug. 30, 2022, while recovering from surgery. Despite the great efforts made to save her, it was at this time she joined her parents in Heaven.

Survivors include her husband of 41 years, Tom; her children, Megan (Manuel) Hart-Fernandez of Cedar Rapids, Molly (Dan) Cord of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Rob (Amy) of Iowa City; her brothers and sisters, Garry (Kathy) Wilhelmi, Kathy (Sam) Dronebarger, David (Rhonda) Wilhelmi, Patti (Dean) Evans and Linda Wear; grandchildren, Stella, Theo, Sofia, Landon and Scarlett; family friend, Pat Wilson; as well as many aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Glenn Eugene Wilhelmi (1962), Arlene Lois (Wilhelmi) Wear (2014); and stepfather, Kenneth Wear.

Barb was born April 16, 1960, in Vinton, daughter of Glenn Eugene and Arlene Lois Wilhelmi. She was the youngest of her five siblings, making her early departure that much more difficult to accept. Barb graduated from Center Point High School in 1978, where she was a cheerleader, Homecoming Queen and a friend to all. Barb then moved to Cedar Rapids where she worked at The Closet clothing store and later the Abstract Co. She met Tom at the annual Cedar Rapids Jaycee’s Haunted House in 1979 and the couple married Jan. 24, 1981, on an unseasonably warm Iowa winter day (64 degrees!). She worked at the Abstract Co. until she had the couple’s first child, Megan in 1983, followed by Molly in 1985 and Rob in 1988.

Barb enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom for many years. She made every holiday, birthday and snow day extra special. She was a Christian and attended Noelridge Baptist Church for many years where she was also a Sunday school teacher. Barb enjoyed volunteering and later began working in 1993 at Garfield Elementary School as their volunteer coordinator. She loved the part-time school schedule which allowed for ample time to care for the couple’s children, spend time in her gardens and backyard swimming pool and later with her grandchildren, who best knew her as “Mama.”

Mama had planned to retire when Garfield School was scheduled to close to afford her more time with her grandchildren, Stella, Theo, Sofia, Landon and Scarlett who were her pride and joy. She enjoyed gardening, shopping at thrift stores and collecting Raggedy Ann dolls. Mama loved summer vacations to visit her in-laws in New Jersey and cabin vacations to Backbone State Park with her husband, kids and grandkids. She enjoyed trying new recipes, attending Ladies Camp Weekend at Spring Valley Bible Camp, Cousin’s Luncheons, and getting together with her sisters for Donutland donuts and coffee.

Barb was known for her delicious baked goods that she would bring to all the family picnics and school social events. She was recognized as a past KCRG TV-9 A+ For Education award winner and PTA Outstanding Volunteer for the Cedar Rapids Community School District. Barb was hands-down, the best wife, Mama, friend and colleague.

Mama did not like funerals and will be honored through a Celebration of Life FUNeral on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, with a private graveside service at Lenox Cemetery planned on Sunday Aug. 27, 2023, after the annual ancestor’s picnic at the New Jerusalem Church in Norway. The funeral will be held at a time when grief has passed and at a time when all of her grandchildren can attend and have fun in her memory together.

This f

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celebration will most definitely involve an outdoor campfire, s’mores and glow bracelets, which were key features at the Saturday Night Dance Parties she and Tom would host for their kids (and now grandkids) while listening to the KMRY Saturday evening radio show, “Juke Box Rewind Live.”

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be directed to the New Jerusalem Church of Lenox Township in Memory of Barb and can be mailed to: Azul Health, 1035 Blairs Ferry Rd., Marion, IA 52302.

Online condolences can be left at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.

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